Massachusetts sex offender arrested on child pornography charges while out on parole

A Massachusetts sex offender was arrested yesterday on child pornography charges while out on parole.

According to Barnstable Police, Officers responded to an address on Gosnold Street in Hyannis to assist with a Massachusetts State Parole Officer, who was conducting a “home visit” of a parolee. The Parole Officer had discovered images of alleged child pornography during the visit and notified Barnstable Police.

As a result of the home visit and a subsequent investigation by Barnstable Police Detectives, 62-year-old Robert Laplante, of Hyannis, was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography, 3rd Offense, as well as a Parole Violation.

At the time of the arrest, Laplante was registered as a Level 3 Sex Offender for the offense of Possession of Child Pornography. In 2005 Laplante plead guilty to secretly videotaping and photographing naked children between the years of 1996-2004. Laplante was sentenced to six to nine years in jail with probation for ten years.

On Friday March 13, Laplante was transported to the Barnstable District Court where he was arraigned on the above charge and was held on the parole violation. The court also set $20,000 bail on Laplante for the new charge. Possession of Child Pornography, 3rd Offense carries a minimum mandatory prison sentence 10 years.